Schetsen van een paard 1876 - 1951

Theo Nieuwenhuis sketched these horses on paper, using pen and ink. Nieuwenhuis lived through a transformative period, witnessing the rise of industrialization and urbanization. Here we see two horses, one with its head lowered as if grazing, the other standing, its back to us. The simplicity of the lines belies the complexity of the subject, drawing our attention to the animal form. It is hard not to imagine the lives of working horses in the late 19th century, performing labor and providing transportation. They were ubiquitous, yet often rendered invisible. Nieuwenhuis captures the essence of these animals, not as majestic symbols, but as figures embedded in everyday life. The sketch invites us to consider the relationships between humans and animals, labor and leisure, representation and reality. How do we value labor? And how is labor gendered? It reminds us of the silent contributions of animals throughout history, and perhaps, compels us to consider our ethical responsibilities towards them.